KUALA LUMPUR: Over 300 child abuse cases happened at kindergartens and daycare centres last year, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
"There were a total of 336 abuse cases between 2021 and 2022. The cases happened at both registered and non-registered kindergartens and daycare centres," said the Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
Nancy said this when replying to a supplementary question raised by Salamiah Mohd Nor (PN-Termeloh) in Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 27).
Salamiah wanted to know the number of abuse cases involving children in kindergartens and day care centres and what was being done to stop such incidents.
Nancy also said that a total of 828 male and 743 female children were physically abused in 2019.
"In 2022, a total of 679 males and 622 female children were physically abused," she added.
In an earlier response to a question by Datuk Doris Sophia Bordi (GPS-Sri Akan), Nancy said that several improvements were made to ensure that children are better safeguarded while at kindergartens and day care centres.
Among them, she said, was that childminders with registered kindergartens and day care centres must have 28 days of training.
She added that CCTVs must also be installed to better monitor activities on such premises.
"Parents must also play a role in carrying out physical checks on their children to see if there are any signs of abuse.
"They should not hesitate to call the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline to lodge a report if there are signs of abuse," she said.
Nancy commended the swift action by welfare officers in investigating a rise in complians of child abuse last week.
She said the officers acted immediately on the reports despite having to prepare for the start of fasting in Ramadan.
